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Abstract:

A multilayer sheeting with a 3D floating image. The sheeting includes a
layer of microlenses and a multilayer material disposed adjacent the
microlenses. The multilayer material includes multiple adjacent layers
having X-Y planar positions and a Z-direction orthogonal to the X-Y
planar positions. Individual images, which contrast with the material,
are formed in the multilayer material and include connected elements at
interfaces between the multiple layers and conjunction elements between
connected elements. The connected elements are registered in the
Z-direction at the X-Y planar positions in the interfaces between the
layers. The individual images collectively form a composite 3D image that
appears to the unaided eye to be three-dimensional and floating above or
below the sheeting, or both.

Claims:

1. A multilayer sheeting with a 3D floating image, comprising: at least
one layer of microlenses, the layer having first and second sides; a
multilayer material disposed adjacent the first side of the layer of
microlenses, wherein the multilayer material comprises multiple adjacent
layers having X-Y planar positions and a Z-direction orthogonal to the
X-Y planar positions; individual images formed in the multilayer material
associated with the plurality of the microlenses, wherein the individual
images contrast with the material, wherein the individual images comprise
connected elements at interfaces between the multiple layers and
conjunction elements between the connected elements, and wherein the
connected elements are registered in the Z-direction at the X-Y planar
positions in the interfaces between the layers; and a composite image,
provided by the individual images, that appears to the unaided eye to be
three-dimensional and floating above or below the sheeting, or both.

2. The multilayer sheeting of claim 1, wherein the sheeting is flexible.

3. The multilayer sheeting of claim 1, wherein the composite image also
appears to the unaided eye to be at least in part in the plane of the
sheeting.

4. The multilayer sheeting of claim 1, wherein the multilayer material is
a radiation sensitive material.

5. The multilayer sheeting of claim 1, wherein the sheeting is an
embedded lens sheeting.

6. The multilayer sheeting of claim 1, further comprising a reflective
film on one side of the layer of microlenses.

7. The multilayer sheeting of claim 1, further comprising a protective
overcoat on one side of the sheeting.

8. The multilayer sheeting of claim 1, wherein at least one of the
conjunction elements connects two of the connected elements at a same X-Y
planar position.

9. The multilayer sheeting of claim 1, wherein at least one of the
conjunction elements connects two of the connected elements at different
X-Y planar position.

Description:

BACKGROUND

[0001] Maps describing multilayer infrastructure of urban cities tend to
use multiple separate static maps, one map for each level of the
infrastructure. For example, maps of subway stations include one
individual map for each floor of the station. Users of the subway station
must visualize how the separate maps fit together, the registration among
them, in order to navigate the station among its multiple levels or
floors.

[0002] Computer monitors or other electronic display devices can show
multilayer infrastructure with additional information. For example, they
can show a 3D representation and allow a user to interact with the
display in order to manipulate the displayed image such as rotating the
displayed image, or expanding or contracting the displayed image.
However, these methods for showing multilevel infrastructure are more
expensive and less portable than static maps.

[0003] A need exists to better represent multilayer infrastructure, or
other multilayer information, in a static map.

SUMMARY

[0004] A multilayer sheeting with a 3D floating image, consistent with the
present invention, includes at least one layer of microlenses and a
multilayer material disposed adjacent the layer of microlenses. The
multilayer material includes multiple adjacent layers having X-Y planar
positions and a Z-direction orthogonal to the X-Y planar positions.
Individual images are formed in the multilayer material associated with
the plurality of the microlenses. The individual images contrast with the
material and include connected elements at interfaces between the
multiple layers and conjunction elements between the connected elements.
The connected elements are registered in the Z-direction at the X-Y
planar positions in the interfaces between the layers. The individual
images collectively form a composite 3D image that appears to the unaided
eye to be three-dimensional and floating above or below the sheeting, or
both.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0005] The accompanying drawings are incorporated in and constitute a part
of this specification and, together with the description, explain the
advantages and principles of the invention. In the drawings,

[0006] FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of a substrate for the 3D floating
image multilayer film;

[0007] FIG. 2 is a side view illustrating Z-axis registration of connected
elements in the multilayer film;

[0009]FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a system to write images to a 3D
floating image multilayer film;

[0010]FIG. 5 is a design for a multilayer film showing a 3D floating
image map for Example 1; and

[0011] FIG. 6 is a design for a multilayer film showing a 3D floating
image map for Example 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0012] FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of a substrate 10 for the 3D
floating image multilayer film. Substrate 10 includes a reflective film
14 having an array of microlenses 16 embedded in a material 18, and a
protective overcoat 20. Film 14 can be implemented with retroreflective
sheeting such as one of the SCOTCHLITE Products by 3M Company. Substrate
10 also includes a floating image film 12 adhered to reflective film 14
such as through a lamination process. Floating image film 12 includes an
array of microlenses 28 embedded in a radiation sensitive multilayer
material represented by layers forming interfaces 22, 24, and 26, and a
protective overcoat 30. Three layers are shown for illustrative purposes
only, and any number of layers can be used depending upon, for example,
an image to be created. The layers can be formed of a continuous material
segmented into interfaces established at various planes in the
Z-direction, or the layers can be individual layers formed on top of one
another to create the interfaces. Examples of floating image films,
including types of microlenses and radiation sensitive materials for
them, are described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,288,842, which is incorporated
herein by reference as if fully set forth.

[0013] FIGS. 2 and 3 are side and perspective views, respectively,
illustrating Z-axis registration of connected elements in floating image
film 12. Interface 22 has connected elements 32 and 36. Interface 24 has
connected elements 34, 38, and 40. Interface 26 has connected element 42.
The connected elements are joined by conjunction elements; for example,
connected elements 36 and 38 are joined by conjunction element 27. The
connected elements are registered in the Z-direction (along the Z-axis)
at the interfaces between the layers in order for the composite 3D image
to appear as desired. Without Z-direction registration, for example, a
conjunction element may stop short of or extend beyond its intended
connected element, in which case the resulting 3D image may not appear as
desired. As shown in FIG. 3, in order to provide for the Z-axis
registration, the X-Y-Z positions are maintained when forming the 3D
images in the radiation sensitive layers. When forming connected elements
32 and 34, point X11-Y11 (level Z1) connects with point
X21-Y21 (level Z2). When forming connected elements 36 and
38, point X12-Y12 (level Z1) connects with point
X22-Y22 (level Z2). When forming connected elements 40 and
42, point X23-Y23 (level Z2) connects with point
X31-Y31 (level Z3). Tables 1 and 2 illustrate a data
structure for mapping of associated image points, connected elements, and
conjunction elements for use in forming the 3D image.

[0014] The connected elements in the film can be located at various X-Y
planar positions among the interfaces between layers in the film. The
conjunction elements can connect two connected elements at the same or
different X-Y positions among the interfaces between layers. The
conjunction elements can include any type elements to form an image such
as lines, curves, or other types of elements. The conjunction elements
are imaged between connected elements using an imaging system as
described below. The connected elements at the interfaces between layers
are registered in the Z-direction such that the conjunction elements
appear as desired in the resulting 3D floating image film.

[0015]FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a system 31 to write images to a
3D floating image multilayer film. System 31 includes a laser imager 33
to write images to a substrate 35. An X-Y-Z stage 37 provides for
movement of the substrate in the X-Y-Z directions during imaging. A
controller 39 can control operation of imager 33 and movement of the
substrate via X-Y-Z stage 37. Controller 39 can be implemented with a
computer, or other processor-based device, and can be programmed with the
information represented by Tables 1 and 2 to form an image with
Z-direction registration. A system and method to write images in order to
form a floating image films are described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,288,842.

EXAMPLES

[0016] The substrate for the films in the Examples included two sheets,
sheet A and sheet B. Sheet A was a microlens array sheet (radius of
curvature equal to 23.2 microns, the length from lens top to metal layer
equal to 62 microns) with a wall around the lens as identified in Table 3
(microlens array). Sheet B was a retroreflective material (3M SCOTCHLITE
reflective material 680-10, Sumitomo 3M Company, LTD.) as shown in Table
3. In Table 3, the parameter R is the radius of curvature of the
microlenses from a cross-sectional view, and the parameter D is the
diameter of the microlenses measured from a top view.

[0017] Images were written to the substrate for the films in the Examples
as follows. Floating 3D images were formed on both sheet A and sheet B by
the method disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,288,842. In particular, the 3D
images were formed with Nd:YAG laser at 1.06 microns-wavelength, an
optics system including aspherical lens for image forming, triaxial
(X-Y-Z) stage equipment to change the focal length of above-mentioned
aspherical lens for image forming. The energy density on both sheet A and
sheet B was about 8 mJ/cm2.

Example 1

[0018]FIG. 5 is an example of a design 44 for connected elements in a
multilayer film showing a 3D floating image map and formed using the
system and method described above.

[0019] Design 44 represents a subway station and has a ground level 46 and
a basement level 48 with tracks 50. Staircases 52 connect the ground and
basement levels.

[0020] In the image of FIG. 5, elements of the same level of a floor are
marked on the same layer of image as connected elements. Another element
that belongs to the next level of a floor is marked on a next layer of
the image with respect to the prior layer. Several levels of floors and
associated connected elements can be marked in each layer. The
registration for each layer is sufficiently maintained to be capable of
identifying particular positions of the layers in the X-Y planar
position. The gap to separate the interfaces among the layers should be,
for example, about 5 mm and greater that is capable of identifying the
differences of each layer.

[0021] The conjunction elements of the map, such as staircases, elevator
shafts, and escalators are marked by connecting each layer through
connected elements at the interfaces between layers. Some of the
conjunction elements, such as staircases and escalators, are connecting
different X-Y planar positions among two adjacent interfaces between
layers. The floating image is written into the film while maintaining the
X-Y-Z positions each layer and registration of the connected elements in
the Z-direction.

Example 2

[0022] FIG. 6 is an example of a design 54 for connected elements in a
multilayer film showing a 3D floating image map and formed using the
system and method described above. Design 54 is more complicated than
design 44 in that design 54 includes more levels. In particular, design
54 represents a subway station and has levels 56, 58, and 60. An
escalator 62 connects levels 56 and 58, and a staircase 64 connects
levels 58 and 60. In the image of FIG. 6, the same methodology as
described for Example 1 was used to form the image having connected
elements and conjunction elements registered in the Z-direction along
with the registration for each layer being sufficiently maintained to be
capable of identifying particular positions of the layers in the X-Y
planar positions.